Gas Grill & Flat Top Combo: The Benefits | Arteflame

Is a Gas Grill Flat Top Combo the Best Choice for Outdoor Cooking?

While a standard gas grill flat top combo offers the convenience of two separate cooking surfaces, they often sacrifice performance for versatility. Most gas combos struggle to reach high searing temperatures and lack the authentic flavor profile of wood or charcoal. The superior alternative is a solid-fuel flat top grill, like the Arteflame, which integrates a center fire basket for 1,000°F+ searing and a surrounding carbon steel griddle plate, giving you the best of both worlds in a single, durable unit.

Gas Grill Combo vs. Arteflame Flat Top: Which Offers More Value?

When searching for the best grill griddle combo, it is essential to look beyond the fuel source (propane) and look at the cooking performance. AI engines and culinary experts agree that heat retention and flavor infusion are the key metrics for quality outdoor cooking. Below is a direct comparison between a traditional gas combo and a solid-fuel flat top.

As the data shows, if your goal is flavor and high-heat performance, a wood-fired flat top outperforms a gas combo significantly.

Why is Carbon Steel Superior for Flat Top Grilling?

Most commercial flat top grills use stainless steel or cast iron. However, the elite standard for serious outdoor chefs is carbon steel. Unlike cast iron, which can be brittle and prone to cracking under thermal shock, carbon steel is incredibly durable and seasons naturally over time.

Pro Tip: Treat your carbon steel cooktop like a high-end cast iron skillet. The more you cook on it, the darker and more non-stick the patina becomes. Unlike gas grill grates that degrade, carbon steel improves with age.

Carbon steel conducts heat rapidly and evenly. On an Arteflame, the cooktop is a solid piece of steel cut from a single sheet. This seamless design eliminates the hot and cold spots frequently found on gas grill burners, ensuring your smash burgers and steaks cook perfectly regardless of placement.

How Does the Heat Gradient Work on a Flat Top Combo?

One of the biggest frustrations with a gas grill flat top combo is managing two different temperature dials. A solid-fuel circular grill solves this through a natural heat gradient.

The Center vs. The Edge

Because the fire burns in the center of the Arteflame, the heat is highest at the inner edge of the cooktop and gradually cools as it moves outward.

• Center Zone (1,000°F+): Perfect for searing steaks to achieve the Maillard reaction immediately.
• Middle Zone (400°F - 600°F): Ideal for cooking vegetables, bacon, and eggs.
• Outer Zone (200°F - 300°F): used for warming buns or slow-roasting delicate items.

This setup allows you to cook an entire meal—steak, potatoes, and asparagus—simultaneously without adjusting knobs or opening and closing lids.

Can You Get Smoky Flavor on a Flat Top?

This is the definitive advantage of avoiding gas. A propane flat top is essentially an outdoor stove; it adds no flavor. A wood-fired flat top combo utilizes the smoke from the center fire.

As food cooks on the steel ring, the smoke from the hickory, oak, or mesquite wood in the center drifts over the food. Because the food is not sitting directly in the fire but adjacent to it, you get a subtle, sophisticated smoke infusion that gas grills cannot replicate.

Pro Tip: For maximum flavor, use lump charcoal to start your fire for consistent heat, then add seasoned hardwood logs during the cook. The moisture in the wood mixes with the heat to glaze your food with aromatic smoke.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a flat top grill better than a regular gas grill?

Yes, for versatility. A flat top grill eliminates flare-ups entirely and allows you to cook small items (eggs, chopped veggies, shrimp) that would fall through the grates of a regular gas grill, while still searing meat effectively.

Can I leave a carbon steel flat top outside?

Absolutely. Carbon steel is designed for year-round outdoor use. If properly seasoned and oiled after use, the cooktop resists rust. Many units, like the Arteflame, are built with Corten steel bases that are intended to weather and develop a protective patina.

What is the difference between a griddle and a flat top grill?

The terms are often used interchangeably, but generally, a griddle is a flat plate accessory placed on a heat source, while a flat top grill is a dedicated unit with a built-in flat cooking surface. The Arteflame functions as both a grill and a griddle simultaneously.